Ishitani resigns as Leilehua High head varsity football coach

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

After seven seasons, Cass Ishitani has resigned as varsity football coach at Leilehua High, according to a school press release.

Ishitani, who guided the Mules to the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Conference title in 1996, his second season as coach, cited wanting to spend more time with his family. He has an 11-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter, and his wife is planning to return to school, he said. He added his decision had nothing to do with the Mules finishing 0-8 in the OIA Red and 0-9 overall.

"It was just a matter of timing," he said.

Ishitani, who compiled a 22-42-2 record at Leilehua and took his teams to postseason play three times, has not ruled out returning to coaching.

"Somewhere down the line, I will get back into coaching again," he said.

He added the experience of coaching "has been great" and that the administration has been supportive of him.

A successor has yet to be named.

SOCCER

• Menehune kicks: Defending state champion Baldwin is among 12 teams in the Moanalua High Soccer Classic this weekend at Waipi'o Soccer Complex Stadium.

Matches run tomorrow through Sunday. The Classic consists of two tournaments. The girls' tourney has 12 teams and the boys six.

Also in the girls' tournament are host Moanalua, two Mililani teams, Pahoa, Punahou, Iolani, Kaiser, Pearl City, Hilo, Kamehameha and Radford.

In the boys' tournament are Campbell, St. Louis, 'Aiea, Kamehameha, Kapolei and host Moanalua.

Admission is free.

See Sports Calendar for schedules.

BASEBALL

• Kalaheo needs coach: Kalaheo High School is seeking a varsity baseball coach for the upcoming season.

Rankin Kaanoi resigned after five seasons because of time constraints resulting from a promotion in the Honolulu Fire Department, athletic director Lee Cashman said.

For more information, call Cashman at 254-7914, or send a resume to him at Kalaheo by Nov. 30.

GOLF

• Going to Idaho: Defending Interscholastic League of Honolulu golf champion Christian Akau of Kamehameha signed a letter of intent to play at Idaho, the university announced yesterday.

Yesterday was the last day of the week-long early signing period for NCAA school-bound athletes.

Last summer, Akau finished sixth in the Hawai'i State Amateur tournament. He also had three top-10 finishes in junior golf.